Sputum Test submissions and outcome results

@sueinmn That is so true about the lab report ......"Every lab, test protocol and lab report seem to differ differ. " Then their is each pulmonologists opinion that comes into play on what to do, not to do and how bad the big picture is.
That is why we need to truly know ourselves, learn to pay attention to our body all through the years and go with our 'gut thoughts' many times.
In the meantime going to do a little more research to understand what you and @kathyjjb had to say in your posts that I don't fully know enough about.
Thanks

@kathyjjb For me it is easy to bring up the mucus vs how hard it appears for others who say they can't bring up anything? Question: Is it easy for you to bring up the mucus?

The nurse at Tyler (she has been a pulmonologist nurse for years and was Dr. McShane's nurse) who has always been good about answering my questions on my chart messenger. talked in terms of the numbers of colonies as the indicator. The Tyler lab report would indicate the number of colonies and as well give a plus (+) number also when the MAI was showing positive.

I don't know if you read my post elsewhere but I have started doing one day of saline/nebulizing and the next without the saline/nebulizing, however, I am doing all other things I do on the day I nebulize. For me I get up just as much the day I don't nebulize. I want to see how that goes and how I feel. So far fine.
We all have to find our way to what will work for us and what we can or cannot do to save time.
Barbara

@blm1007blm1007 Maybe it is colonies? I'll have to ask my ID doctor when I go back to see her. I for sputum production, I always thought I had dry BE but now that I am nebulizing, I am coughing up more. If I don't nebulize daily, I don't get up as much. I would rather be able to produce more mucus vs it is becoming compacted in airways-which is what my CT has shown. I have tried the vest, but it gave me vertigo, not doing that.

Barbara,
I have gastritis and IBS so cannot tolerate certain foods, drugs etc.
I was told no probiotics because it will feed gut bacteria.
Its very difficult for me. I try my best.
Im supposed to start Brinsupri soon and nervous about taking it because I have chronic pain/discomfort

@mariegrace So sorry to hear all that, it makes it very difficult for you and also keeps one torn with what to do. My heart goes out to you and others in chronic pain and discomfort. Wish it were different for you.
You are doing what you can and doing it all in between all other things we have to do. Try to enjoy every little minute that comes up that brings you a touch of joy.
Thank you for your discussion with me.
Barbara

@kathyjjb Can you do your own percussion cupping on either side of your breast bone and would you be able to bend your arms at your elbows to reach your back and with your fists 'pound' on your lungs on the side of your spine....after doing the nebulizing,? What I mean is in between a good few breaths of breathing in the saline and then doing the percussion, air way clearance method and the huff cough before starting all over again. It helps me, at least I feel it does.
I feel I was somewhat compacted to start with and in time with nebulizing and the full process it began loosening up and breaking up the mucus and mucus plugs that were all somewhat compacted . My logic, don't know if I am right.
I did not like the vest...I did not like that it was pounding in areas of the body, stomach,, breast bone, spine, etc.. .....where it didn't need to be pounding. My thought on the vest....needs to be tailor made for each person.
Hope in time you are able to bring up the amount that needs to be brought up and that would put a happy face on you! Putting the time into most everything, generally speaking, makes a difference.
Barbara

@blm1007blm1007 Thanks so much for the tip. I am going to try that!! It certainly sounds logical.
I so appreciate you sharing that. I'll keep you posted!! Kathy

@blm1007blm1007
Thank you Barbara. Having a tough time, lost my husband on october 16th who did my chesr PT every morning. Now I use the vest. Doing whatever I can to keep my lungs clear as possible.

@blm1007blm1007 Hi Barbara, I did some pounding like you suggested last night and again this morning during ACT and to my surprise (shock really), I have noticed an increase in mucus production. I will continue doing this every day, 2/day, and will be very interested if I see an improvement in June CT with respect to compacted mucus. Thank you again for sharing!

@kathyjjb Glad to hear you tried the percussion and that you think it helped. Good news.
I know that when I started my BE therapy/routine all I was doing at that time was the percussion on my front...and I cleared the plugs after awhile. I had been sleeping on my back prior to learning about sleeping on the wedge on the left side. So in my mind the mucus formed the plugs in the upper area in my upper lobe(s) due to sleeping on my back. All that was before learning that is a no, no,...for all of us....to sleep on our back. Who knew!
After clearing the upper lobe area(s).... plug(s) began accumulating in my lower lobe, left side.
I started to do my fist percussion on my back a good while after starting therapy and did add the postural drainage after learning about the plugging being worse in the lower left lobe(s).
I think I removed the plug(s) that had formed in my lower left lobe because I brought up a good size plug a month ago. It actually looked like one attached to another.
When I asked the pulmonologists if sleeping on the wedge on my left side could be contributing to the accumulation in the left lower lobe.....they said possibly.
I know you mentioned, if remember correctly you can't do postural drainage???

However for your information or for others. For my postural drainage I use the high end of the wedge pillow with a bed pillow on top of it to allow for my hip area to be higher than my trunk area and my head is therefore low. I lay on an incline and invert myself. I lay on my right side then left side then my back and do the percussion with my hands on my front and fists on my back depending how I am lying for the postural drainage. I also do autogenic breathing while I do this. I do what I would call five sets, first the hammer, (See below) then inversion postural drainage, then I sit up do autogenic drainage and huff cough, walk and use the massage hammer and then go back to repeat all....therefore about five sets of doing this.

Also, I am going to mention what I also bought to help me with percussion on my back. It is called ..... Massage Hammer, Meridians Back Knock Massager, Double Head Back Scratcher Percussion Massager, Manual Massage Hammer. It is on Amazon for about $10.00.
I am fortunate that I can use it and it is not too much for me. I use it on my back. I like that we can control the amount of 'pressure/pounding' because the pressure/pounding is regulated by our own handling of it.

Do you take really deep breaths when you breathe in the saline to get it deep into the lungs? I know they say to just do your normal breathing but I prefer the deep comfortable breaths. When you breath out do you breath out as if you are blowing on a whistle to allow for the checks to not inflate but rather somewhat deflate.

It appears you are going to master it and get it moving ....to get it out.
Barbara